The introduction of the feed-in tariff in April was the kick start the PV market had been waiting for. The stated aim for the Government was to meet the EU target of generating at least 15% of the UK's energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. PV is leading the way in terms of volume compared to other forms of renewable energy generation.

So what has actually been achieved over that time? There is no doubt that there has been  adramatic rise in the number of PV installations over the last 6 months, despite supply issues with inverters over that time. Expectations are that by the first anniversary of the feed-in tariff, there will have been more PV capacity installed in the UK than the total capacity installed before the tariff was introduced.

According to data from Ofgem, there were over 10,000 domestic PV installations made between April and September this year, accointing for over 25MW of installed capacity, with a small amount of commecrial installations in comparison. This is mainly due to the more complex nature of most commercial installations and issues of planning and finance.

To put this in context, the PV capacity installed is still around 1% of that installed in Germany, so a great opportunity still exists. The main obstructions to faster growth are the capital required for installations at a time when lending is as difficult as ever, and the recent uncertainty about future tariff rates as part of the Government's spending review, which should become clear after 20th October.

Presuming the Government doesn't make any damafing changes, the prognosis remains encouraging for the sector, with projected returns remaining attractive in terms of investment, and as lending constraints ease and awareness of the tariff scheme spreads, the PV sector should still look forward to some years of sustained growth, and consumers enjoying the benefits of using their own locally generated renewable power along with a sound financial return.